A whole ham is a beautiful centerpiece for a celebratory meal. It's also a lot of food—unless you're cooking for a huge group, you're bound to have leftovers. Fortunately, cooked ham is versatile. We've collected some of our favorite leftover ham recipes.
The obvious way to use just about any leftovers is to make a sandwich. From a cubano to a monte cristo to a club to a muffuletta, your options are endless. Try our croque tartine Parisienne, an open-face ham and cheese sandwich decadently topped with a runny fried egg and creamy béchamel.
Leftover ham also lends itself to flavoring soup. Try a simple senate bean soup, or the Southern dish hoppin' John, a soup of black-eyed peas and rice that has a smack of ham to it.
For an ornate breakfast, try eggs sardou. This New Orleans classic features anchovies tucked in between egg and artichoke, a thick hollandaise sauce, scattered handfuls of minced black truffle, parsley, and ham, and elegant fried asparagus spears.
Find these recipes and more in our collection of 24 leftover ham recipes!
Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches
Lemon curd and goat cheese lends this breakfast sandwich a pleasing tang. Get the recipe for Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches »
Puerto Rican Ham and Egg Sandwiches (Mallorcas)
Fluffy, eggy, buttery, sweet, coiled like a snail’s shell and generously dusted with powdered sugar, Pan de Mallorca is named for its land of origin, in Spain. Get the recipe for Puerto Rican Ham and Egg Sandwiches (Mallorcas) »
Eggs Sardou is an ornate New Orleans classic, with anchovies tucked in between egg and artichoke, and a thick hollandaise sauce blanketing the entire dish, scattered with handfuls of minced black truffle, parsley, and ham and served with elegant fried asparagus spears.
Ham and Hard-Boiled Egg Sandwich
Ham and eggs may be a breakfast classic, but they’re even better for lunch: try sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs layered with a salty ham and a bit of mayo on a hearty white bread. Get the recipe for Ham and Hard-Boiled Egg Sandwich »
Senate Bean Soup
Senate Bean Soup
Football Sandwiches
A staple of Junior League cookbooks, these miniature ham sandwiches are doused in a tangy butter-poppyseed sauce and then baked in the oven.
White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese
Sun-dried tomatoes and chopped ham turn up the flavor in this baked pasta. Get the recipe for White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese »
This savory danish with salty country ham gravy is a glorious mash-up of pastry and homey Southern comfort. Get the recipe for Country Ham and Red-Eye Gravy Danish »
Chablis-Style Ham with Tomato Cream Sauce (Jambon au Chablis)
In this dish, thick-cut ham is doused in a velvety tomato-based cream sauce made with chablis. Get the recipe for Chablis-Style Ham with Tomato Cream Sauce (Jambon au Chablis) »
Ham and Caramelized Onion Pizza
Ham and Caramelized Onion Pizza
Napolitan Spaghetti
This pasta dish was created at the New Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan, after World War II to cater to American GIs and soon became a mealtime favorite across the rest of the country.
A fried egg crowns this decadent sandwich of ham enrobed in béchamel and melted cheese. Get the recipe for Egg-Topped Ham and Cheese Sandwich (Croque Tartine Parisienne) »
Spaghetti Fritters with Ham and Smoked Mozzarella (Frittatine di Pasta)
Coiled strands of spaghetti soak up a creamy sauce in these delectable fried ham and cheese fritters.
Swiss Onion Tart
This tart uses a salty, smoky ham known as speck; bacon is a good substitute.
Monte Cristo
People have strong opinions about the Monte Cristo sandwich, a double-decker of Swiss cheese, ham, and chicken or turkey, battered, fried, and dusted with confectioners’ sugar, served with jelly on the side. Some consider it a marvel; others, an absurdity. Try it with cranberry sauce!
Ham and Cheese Soufflés
Ham and Cheese Soufflés
Ham, Cream Cheese, and Red Pepper Jelly Canapés
These ultra-simple, elegant snacks are served by home cooks in the American South.
Hoppin' John Soup
This soup of black-eyed peas and rice, traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day in the American South, makes good use of leftover holiday ham scraps.
Fancy Sandwich Loaf
Sandwich loaves were popular party foods in the 1940s and ’50s. This updated version combines earthy mushrooms and pistachios with baked ham and fresh asparagus.
Cubano (Cuban Ham and Cheese Sandwich)
A Cubano is a griddled white roll with Swiss cheese, boiled ham, dill pickle slices, and roasted pork.
Muffuletta
Deli meats and cheese are elevated to greatness with an olive salad in this New Orleans classic.
Southern Ham Salad
Southern ham salad is spiked with pickles and celery.
Though this sumptuous stew is traditionally braised in a clay pot, we found a Dutch oven works very well.
FAQs
Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F.
Is ham still good after 7 days? ›
Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it. It doesn't matter if the ham is whole or sliced; the lack of preservatives allows it to spoil more quickly.
What to do with a lot of ham? ›
Leftover ham recipes
- Ham & cheese croissants. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
- Christmas ham quesadilla with sweet pickled onions. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
- Ham sandwich. ...
- Chicken, leek & ham pie. ...
- Monte Cristo sandwich. ...
- Celeriac hash with ham hock & duck eggs. ...
- Sherried turkey & ham bake. ...
- Ham, turkey & sprout pie.
Freezer storage time is for quality only. Frozen hams remain safe indefinitely. For more information, see Ham and Food Safety.
Why is my ham slimy but not expired? ›
Slimy ham is a sign of bacterial growth, so don't consume it if it's wet or oily.
Can you eat 5 day old ham? ›
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.
How to tell if cooked ham is bad? ›
How to spot the signs of spoiled ham
- An “off” texture: One of the first signs of spoilage is best described as a texture that just looks weird. ...
- Unpleasant odor: The nose always knows. ...
- Color changes: Due to the nature of ham, it's common for the meat to remain pink even after it's fully cooked.
How long can I keep my Honey Baked ham or turkey breast in the refrigerator? Once thawed, your Honey Baked Ham will stay fresh for 7 to 10 days and the Honey Baked Turkey Breast will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.
Does smoked ham spoil? ›
How Long Will Smoked Ham Last in the Fridge? If, for some reason, you didn't use your ham, and it's still sealed in the package, it can last up to two weeks, which the packaging should indicate. If you open the ham, it will only last for three to five days.
Can I freeze leftover ham? ›
You can freeze delicious ham and it'll last for weeks before you need to use it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that fully cooked frozen ham is safe to eat for up to one to two months. If you find yourself with leftover ham, freezing it for future use is both easy and convenient.
Yes and no. Although ham isn't toxic for your dog, it's best to avoid it in large quantities. The odd small bite is unlikely to cause an issue (unless your dog has a known or underlying medical condition), but it's not the best meat for your pup to consume a lot of.
What to do with fully cooked ham? ›
A fully cooked, ready-to-eat ham (also referred to as a "city ham") can be sliced and served cold or at room temperature—there's no need to reheat it. A spiral-cut ham is delicious this way, whether eaten by the slice, tucked into biscuits, or in a grilled cheese sandwich.
Is it safe to eat 10 year old frozen meat? ›
Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely. However, if meat is frozen too long it may lose quality and taste. If you are unsure if meat is still fresh, you can determine this once it has been thawed.
Why is sliced ham not suitable for freezing? ›
Freezing ham, is it a good idea? Freezing ham before or after cooking often causes changes in flavour and texture. Any ham, frozen and then defrosted, might look and feel spongy and may taste saltier. It may not be ideal for company and would be better used in cooked dishes, such as soups, pizza or casseroles.
How long will an unopened spiral ham last in the refrigerator? ›
How Long Does Ham Keep In The Fridge? If you have a whole ham, it can last in the fridge for up to seventy-five days. If you have a half ham, it will last for about sixty days. Ham that has been precooked or spiral cut will last for about one week.
How do you know if ham is gone bad? ›
Fresh ham should smell salty and possibly even smoky depending on how it was flavored or cooked. However, if you pick up anything “funky” — think of a sulfur-type odor — it's time to toss that ham. Color changes: Due to the nature of ham, it's common for the meat to remain pink even after it's fully cooked.
How long will Christmas ham last in the refrigerator? ›
How long does Christmas ham last? Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.
How long does Honey Baked Ham keep in the fridge? ›
How long can I keep my Honey Baked ham or turkey breast in the refrigerator? Once thawed, your Honey Baked Ham will stay fresh for 7 to 10 days and the Honey Baked Turkey Breast will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.
How long does ham last in the fridge? ›
Cold Food Storage Chart
| Food | Type | Refrigerator [40°F (4°C) or below] |
|---|
| Ham | Cured, cook-before-eating, uncooked | 5 to 7 days or “use by” date |
| Fully-cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, unopened | 2 weeks or “use by” date |
| Cooked, store-wrapped, whole | 1 week |
| Cooked, store-wrapped, slices, half, or spiral cut | 3 to 5 days |
49 more rowsSep 19, 2023
